Bag closing mechanism



6, 1958 E. R. STRINE 2,848,961

BAG CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-"sheet 1 INVENTOR. EL/ R. STR/NE A TTOR/VJ' Y E. R. STRINE BAG CLOSING MECHANISM Aug. 26, 195

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll ll lul lpi. Q

93 w A o:

Filed Nov. 21, 1955 INVENTOR. EL/ R. SEQ/NE Aug. 26, 1958 E. R. STRINE BAG CLQSING MECHANISM 3 sheets sheet 3 Filed Nov. 21, 1955 INV ENTOR. E/.-/ R. 57R/IVE United States Patent Ofiice 2,848,961 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 BAG CLOSING NIECHANISM Eli R. Strine, York, Pa., assignor to Side-O-Mafic Unloader Corporation, York, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 21, 1955, Serial No. 547,966

6 Claims; (Cl. 112-11) This invention relates to improvements in bag closing mechanisms and, more particularly, to mechanisms for use with filling apparatus capable of introducing, for example, measured quantities of solid material, of pulverulent nature or otherwise, into bags formed of paper or other suitable material. Such material will fill the bags within a certain distance of the top. Usually, the bags are wider than they are thick when filled with material of the nature of cement, commercial fertilizer, and the like.

Various kinds of apparatus are available for moving the bags which contain predetermined quantities of material from a discharge chute at a filling station, for example, to mechanism which will close the tops of the bags and also apply bag sealing means such as stitching, staples, or the like. However, mechanism of the type which is presently available frequently is only semiautomatic in nature and requires, in addition to an employee to place bags upon the discharge chute while they are being filled, other employees who also feed the filled bags from one part of the closing and sealing mechanism to another part thereof.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide bag closing mechanism which receives bags from a filling station and moves the bags to means which successively engage the opposite sides of upper portions of the bags to move said sides toward each other and hold the same in such position while additional means, positioned at a lower level than the bag closing means, dispel excess air from the bags from above the solid material therein, and then additional means are employed to hold the closed upper portion of the bags in closed position while the bags are being conveyed to a mechanism such as a sewing machine for sealing the closed upper ends of the bags. Preferably, the additional means for holding the upper ends of the bags closed, while the same are moving to the sewing machine, also cooperate with the conveyor upon which the filled bags are disposed to also engage the upper portions of the bags to positively feed said upper portions toward and through said sewing machine or other bag sealing mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in the aforementioned structure details which render the same inexpensive to manufacture, simple to service when necessary, capable of long life, and operable automatically to transport filled bags from the filling station where they are filled by the aid of an operator but, after being filled, the entire operation of closing and sealing the upper ends of the bags is automatic and reqires no manual assistance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide bag turning and tipping means which is operable automatically to turn the bags from movement in a plane wherein the width of the bags is parallel to the direction of movement, to a position wherein the width of the bags extends transversely toward said direction of movement and the bags then are tipped so as to fall fiat upon conveyor means capable of moving the filled and sealed bags to any desired position from the bag sealing mechanism.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary bag closing mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially fragmentary plan view of the bag closing and air expelling mechanism per se illustrated in Fig. 1 but shown in Fig. 2 on a larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and taken on the line 3-3 of said figure.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 but illustrated on a slightly larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the bag turning and tipping mechanism illustrated at the left-hand end of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 also being on a scale comparable to Fig. 4.

Description of the exemplary mechanism illustrated in the drawings and embodying the principles of the invention now will be described relative to filling paper bags with commercial fertilizer. It is to be understood however that the invention is not to be restricted to such use since flexible containers such as paper bags may be filled with many types of solid material and closed as well as sealed by mechanism made of a suitable size to handle a desired capacity of bags in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, a filling station is designated by a discharge hopper 10 which is only fragmentarily shown. It will be understood that said hopper for example may be associated with measuring mechanism capable of depositing measured charges of material such as fertilizer into a paper bag 12' held upon spout 14 by an operator until the measured charge of eighty pounds, for example, is deposited in the bag. Then the bag is permitted to drop upon the conveyor 16 which is of any suitable type such as a flexible endless belt supported between two rotatable rollers 18. The upper course of the belt 16 preferably slides over a supporting plate 20. The rollers 18 are rotatably supported by suitable bearings 22 fixed to any suitable supporting means 24.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, one of the rollers 18 has a pulley 26 on the outer end of shaft 28 which supports said pulley. Also, as seen in Fig. 4, suitable power means such as an electric motor 30 which is connected to a gear box 32 has a drive shaft 34 projecting therefrom and a pair of pulleys 36 and 38 are fixed thereto. the pulley as is connected by a belt 40 to pulley 26 for purposes of driving conveyor belt 16.

As the filled bags 12 are lowered or dropped from the spout 14 to conveyor 16' adjacent the right-hand end thereof as shown in Fig. 1, they progressively are moved toward the left as viewed in said figure, passing between suitable guide plates 42 which are supported by any suitable means such as brackets 44 fixed, for example, to supporting means 24. The plates 42 are suitably spaced to permit the filled bags 12 to pass readily therebetween but said plates will prevent the bags 12 from tipping to any appreciable extent toward one side or the other. Further, usually, bags of this nature are wider than they are thick when filled as illustrated in the various figures. Generally speaking, it might be said that the bags are rectangular in horizontal cross-section when filled and, particularly in the commercial fertilizer industry, gusset-type bags are used. Referring to Fig. 1, the leading end 46 of a filled bag 12 is shown in fragmentary fashion, this view illustrating the gusset-type construction employed at opposite sides of the bags. Further, most paper bags used in grocery stores and supermarkets are of the gusset-type.

It is to be understood that, in using the term filled bag, the bag will not be entirely filled to the exact top thereof inasmuch as a certain amount of the upper portion of the bag must be utilized to effect the sealing of the top of the bag. Further, a limited amount of space also should be provided in the bag between the sealed upper end thereof and the top of the solid material deposited therein as viewed in Fig. 4 for example. This is so that when the bags are stacked in flat condition, there will be suitable space within the bags into which some of the solid material might move to permit the opposite sides of the bags to move closer together, whereby the bags assume a substantially rectangular shape in transverse cross-section. Providing such space within the bags presents somewhat of a problem however and the present invention includes means to dispel air from the upper portions of the bags, above the solid material therein, and thereby eliminate ballooning action due to entrapped air within the bags when the bags are stacked upon their sides for example. Details of this portion of the apparatus are described hereinafter.

While the entire mechanism comprising the present invention is referred to as bag closing mechanism, said mechanism can be sub-divided into units such as gusset closing means, bag closing means which actually engages the upper portion of a bag to move the opposite sides thereof into approximate engagement with each other, air dispelling means, additional means for holding the upper end of the bag closed while the same is moving to a bag sealing means such as a sewing machine, and still further means which not only hold the upper end of the bag closed immediately prior to the same being sealed but also simultaneously positively feeding the upper end of the bag to and through the sealing means such as a sewing machine. Details of these various means and mechanisms now will be described substantially in the sequence in which they are enunmerated above.

Suitable rigid supporting means are provided for the various elements and units referred to immediately above. One suitable embodiment of supporting means is illustrated in phantom in certain of the figures and particularly Figs. 2 and 4. It will be seen that, for example, a vertical angle member 48 i firmly connected to one of the supporting means 24. The member 48 may be a conventional structural form of any appropriate shape and, connected to the upper end thereof, is a horizontal member 50 to which a horizontal bracket 52 is connected. The upper end of member 48 supports a guide pulley 54 rotatably and an angular extension 56 of member 50 rotatably supports another guide pulley 58. Extending upward from the outer end of horizontal bracket 52 is a vertical shaft 60 which supports a number of different components to be described in detail as follows.

A pair of substantially horizontally extending and elongated frame members 62 are connected at one end to shaft 60 in vertically spaced relationship to each other as is clearly seen from Figs. 1 and 4. Another shaft 64 extends vertically through and between the outer ends of frame members 62. Disposed between the frame members 62 and rotatably supported by shafts 60 and 64 are a pair of guide pulleys 66 and 68 around which an endless belt 70 extends. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that an adjustable positioning means such as a turnbuckle 72 may be connected, for example, between member 50 and upper elongated frame member 62 so as to adjustably position the frame member 62 angularly about shaft 64. In view of this, the outer end of the frame members 62 may be adjustably positioned relative to the discharge spout 14.

Supplementary frame members 74 also are connected at one end to vertical shaft 60 and extend in opposite di- 4 rections to the frame members 62 from said shaft. The frame members 74 are stationarily mounted relative to shaft 60 and the outer ends of said frame members rotatably support a vertical drive shaft 76, the opposite ends of which extend both above and below said frame members.

The upper end of the shaft 76 has a spur gear 78 fixed thereto and the lower end of said shaft has a pair of pulleys 80 and 82 fixed thereto.

A belt 84 extends around an end pulley 80, guide pulleys 54 and 58, downwardly around drive pulley 38 and also around another pulley 86 rotatably supported by the lower portion of shaft 60.

Also fixed to upper frame member 74 and extending vertically therefrom is a vertical supporting post 88 to the upper end of which a crosspiece 90 is fixed such as by welding. The cross-piece 90 is connected at its other end to a vertical bearing member 92 which is parallel to supporting post 88 and receives a vertical shaft 94. Shaft 94 is fixed at its lower end to the upper of a pair of elongated frame members 96. The tubular bearing member 92 serves as a means for supporting the pair of frame members 96.

Also connected to the upper frame member 74 is a horizontal bearing 98 through which a guide shaft 100 extends for slidable guiding movement at one end, the other end of said shaft 100 being fixed for slight pivotal movement relative to the upper frame member 96 through the means of a short vertical shaft 102. A compression spring 104 surrounds shaft 100 and serves to urge the right-hand ends of frame members 74 and 96 away from each other as viewed in Fig. 2, for purposes to be described.

The left-hand ends of frame members 96, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, support another vertical shaft 106 which has a spur gear 108, said spur gear meshing with gear 78. The lower portion of shaft 106 also has fixed thereto a pair of pulleys 110 and 112 and the right-hand end of frame members 96 support another vertical shaft 114.

Shaft 114 is parallel to and transversely spaced away from shaft 60 to which frame members 62 and 74 are connected. Shaft 114 also extends through the left-hand ends of additional frame members 116 which are elongated and extend substantially in a parallel manner to frame member 62. The right-hand ends of frame members 116, as viewed in Fig. 2, support a vertical shaft 118. Another pulley 120 extends between frame members 116 and is rotatable about shaft 118. Shaft 114 also rotatably supports another pulley 122 similar to pulley 120 and an endless belt 124 extends around the pulleys 120 and 122.

The lower portion of shaft 114 also supports still another pulley 126 which is similar to pulley 86 and still another endless belt 128 extends around pulleys 110 and 126, said belt also extending around a suitable tensioning pulley 130, if desired. Belt 128 serves a function similar to belt 84 except that the former is of shorter length than belt 84. Due to the fact that belt 84 is positively driven by drive pulley 38, it serves to drive gear 78 through pulley 80, gear 78 also driving gear 108. The latter, being connected to pulley 110, drives belt 128. Due also to the interconnection of pulleys 122 and 126, belt 128 also serves to drive belt 124. Similarly with regard to belt 84, due to the connection of pulleys 66 and 86, belt 84 also drives belt 70.

Belts 70 and 124 each have courses which move adjacent each other and in the same longitudinal direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. These courses are only slightly spaced from each other as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and said belts comprise bag closing means which engage opposite sides of the upper portion of the bags 12 to move said opposite sides of the bags substantially into closed engagement with each other as the bags are moved by conveyor 16 through the space between the aforementioned courses of belts 70 and 124.

Not only do the belts 70 and 124 comprise bag closing means, but, due to the positive drive of said belts in the direction of the arrows referred to above, said belts tend to move the upper portions of the bags toward the lefthand end of the apparatus as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, hence mimnizing the possibility of the upper ends of the belts becoming stuck or jammed in any way in the portion of the apparatus engaging said upper ends of the bags. Further, the right-hand ends of frame members 116, as viewed in Fig. 12, are supported for limited movement away from frame members 62 when such movement is necessary. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will seen that the right-hand ends of frame members 116 are movable toward and from the corresponding ends of frame members 62 when required. This is due to frame members 116 being supported by suitable linkage 132, the upper end of which may be supported by any appropriate fixed member such as a bracket 134. The angular arrangement of linkage 132, as viewed in Fig. 4, tends normally to prevent frame members 116 from moving any great distance from frame members 62 however. Such limited pivotal movement of frame members 116 is permitted by the mounting of the left-hand ends thereof as viewed in Fig. 2 upon vertical shaft 114 so as to permit such movement.

Mounted concentrically with the upper ends of shafts 64 and 118 are a plurality of gusset folding and closing members 136 and 138. Said members are interconnected to pulleys 68 and 120 so as to be rotatable therewith, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. To facilitate the engagement of members 136 and 138 with the corners of the gussets of the leading ends 46 of bag 12 as shown in Fig. 2, said members preferably are radially serrated so as to provide a plurality of adjacent fingers 140 which preferably are irregularly disposed relative to each other as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Further, the diameters of said members are such that, as shown in both Figs. 2 and 3, said members slightly overlap each other and thereby insure engagement of the edges of the gussets by said members and particularly the fingers 140 thereof. This arrangement also insures firm frictional engagement of the members 136 and 138 with the upper portion of the bag 12 so as positively to feed said upper portion into the space between the adjacent courses of belts 70 and 124. Hence, it will be seen that the first unit engaging the bag is the gusset folding and closing members 136 and 138, these members then moving the bags in cooperation with conveyor 16, between the bag closing belts 70 and 124.

The bag closing mechanism comprising belts 70 and 124 primarily holds the upper portions of the bags substantially in closed condition and, while being so held, the upper portions of the bags 12, which now have been filled with solid material, are engaged at a level preferably only slightly above the solid material by air dispelling means comprising a pair of cooperating disc-like members 142 and 144. Said members are interconnected with pulleys 122 and 126 so as to be positively driven thereby and rotatable therewith. Preferably, the members 142 and 144 are formed from suitable frictional material such as sheet rubber and the peripheries thereof are so arranged that there is only a slight space between said peripheries, thereby insuring elfective dispelling of the air from above the solid material in the bags due to the members 142 and 144 moving the sides of the upper portions of the bags into close engagement with each other while still higher portions of said sides of the bags are held closed by belts 70 and 124.

In the event it should be necessary for the shafts 60 and 114 to be moved transversely relative to each other as, for example, in the event the air dispelling members 142 and 144 should engage obstructions of any kind in the bags, the pivotal mounting of frame members 96 for movement about the axis of bearing member 92 permits such spreading of the shafts 60 and 114. Normally however spring 104 will tend to hold the frame members 74 and 96 in such positions relative to each other that the gears 78 and 108 are held in mesh with each other.

After the bags leave the air dispelling members 142 and 144, they move between the adjacent courses of belts 84 and 128, said courses extending between the shafts 60 and 76, and the shafts 106 and 114. It will be noted that the belts 84 and 128 are disposed at a lower level than the belts 70 and 124 as is obvious from Fig. 1. Such arrangement insures that the closed tops of the bags will remain closed and will prevent the possibility of of any substantial outward movement of the sides of the upper portions of the bags while such upper portions are moving between the pulleys and for example.

After the bags pass between pulleys 80 and 110, they are then engaged at a still lower level by supplementary bags engaging and closing belts 146 and 148 which respectively extend around pulleys 82 and 112 on shafts 76 and 106, and also around additional pulleys 150 and 152. The pulley 150 is supported by a frame extension 154 which is fixed at one end for example to the lower frame member 74 as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. Pulley 152 however is rotatably supported by the outer end of a movable frame extension 156 which is similar to extension 154 except that it is pivotally supported by the lower end of shaft 106 and the right-hand end of frame extension 156 normally is urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, by spring 158. It will be seen that spring 158 normally moves frame extension 156 and pulley 152 in such a direction that said pulley is disposed adjacent pulley 150 and the inner courses of the belts 146 and 148 likewise are disposed in close juxtaposition to each other. This is for purposes of insuring firm engagement of the upper portions of the bags by said belts as the bags move therebetween so as not only to hold the tops of the bags closed but also to positively feed said upper portions of the bags while moving between the belts and thereby cooperate with the feeding movement of conveyor 16.

The combined structure comprising the invention also includes a suitable bag seal applying means generally indicated 160. In some installations, it may be desirable to use a staple applying device to effect the sealing of the tops of the bags, while in other situations such as in the commercial fertilizer industry for example, sewing machines are suitable. In the present illustration, and especially as shown in Fig. 1, an exemplary sewing machine is represented as the bag seal applying means 160. Heavy thread or string 162 is used to stitch the upper ends of the bags closed. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the closed bag 12 shown at the left-hand end of conveyor 16, has been closed by a row of stitching 164.

One of the principal purposes of the belts 146 and 148 is to insure that the upper portions of the filled bags will remain closed while being fed to the exemplary sewing machine but said belts also insure positive feeding of the upper ends of the bags to and through the sewing machine 160, it being understood of course that the principal feeding of the bags 12 is achieved by conveyor 16. However, even after the bags leave the left-hand ends of belts 146 and 148 as shown in Fig. 2, there may be some remote possibility of the bags tending to open to various extents or the sides of the bags to become misaligned. To prevent such possibility occurring, the mechanism also includes still additional bag closing means comprising a pair of flexible spring fingers or wires 166 and 168, these being shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen from Fig. 2 for example that in the preferred arrangement thereof, the fingers 166 and 168 are supported by lower frame members 74 and 96 and the outer ends of the fingers are crossed so as to insure positive engagement with the closed upper ends of the bags as the same are moved to the sewing machine 160. Only a relatively light pressure is intended to be exerted in order that the normal movement of the bags by belts 146 and 148 may not be impeded.

When the leading ends of the upper portions of the bags move past the fingers 166 and 168, the sewing machine 160 should begin its stitching operation. It will be understood of course that it would not be desirable to have the sewing machine running constantly since, in the normal operation of the bag closing mechanism comprising the present invention, the bags may not necessarily follow each other in immediate succession. Accordingly, a suitable control should be provided on any bag sealing means utilized such as sewing machine 160. Hence, the present illustration includes an operating lever 170 which, for example, may operate a solenoid switch 172 that controls the motor driving the sewing machine 160. Only a light pressure is required to operate the lever 170 and the position of the needle of the sewing machine preferably is such that it will stitch the bag adjacent the upper end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. This is for purposes of providing a predetermined amount of space between the row of stitching 164 and the upper portion of the solid material within the bags. Hence, when the bags are stacked in flat condition, the solid material may be moved into said space and permit substantial flattening of the sides of the bags so as to permit desired fiat packing thereof.

It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the courses of the belts 70, 124, 84 and 128, which engage the upper portions of the filled bags, as well as the inner courses of belts 146 and 148, move in the same direction as conveyor 16 and, in general, at substantially the same surface speeds thereof. Hence, the feeding movement such as is provided by said belts will enhance the feeding movement of conveyor 16, thereby insuring that the upper ends as well as the lower ends of the bags are moved in the same feeding direction. Further, the frame members 96 and 116 are mounted for limited movement away from the corresponding frame members 74 and 62. Also, the shaft 106 may move a limited amount away from shaft 76, thus effecting relative radial movement between the teeth of the gears 78 and 108 but such movement usually is not such as to disengage said gears. Still further, the pulley 152 is capable of being moved away from pulley 1S0, thereby permitting separation of the inner courses of belts 146 and 148. All of the foregoing separative movements which are possible between the various belts and vertical shafts insure that no damage will be sustained by the mechanism when unusual situations might occur so as to require such separation without damage to the mechanism.

It also is to be understood that while the specific illustrations shown herein comprise belts and pulleys, any other suitable form of flexible driving and feeding means and also supporting means therefor may be used such as sprocket chains and sprocket gears. Further, while V-belts and complementary V-pulleys have been found to be highly suitable for these purposes, the invention is not to be restricted to such use in any way.

While the filled bags 12 are moving from the filling station comprising discharge hopper 10, to and through the sewing machine 160 for example, said bags are moving with the widest dimension thereof substantially extending in the direction of such movement. Further, the bags are maintained substantially vertical due to the firm engagement of the upper ends thereof by the various closing and feeding belts as well as guide plates 42. However, as said filled and sealed bags approach the left-hand end of conveyor 16 as viewed in Fig. 1, they are engaged .by means operable to rotate the bags about the vertical axis of each approximately through 90 of movement. Such rotating means comprises a hook-like member 174 which normally extends at least part-way across conveyor 16 as shown in Fig. 5 in full lines. The outer end of member 174 is supported by a pivot 176 and any suitable means such as a spring178 tends to resist turn- .8 .ing movement of the member 174 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 1 and 5 there is illustrated an exemplary supplemental conveyor 180 which may be used for example to transport the filled and sealed bags 12 to storage. transportation vehicles, or otherwise. It is intended and preferred however that the bags 12 lie upon the conveyor 180 in flat condition as shown particularly in Fig. 1. The member 174 achieves such positioning of the bags, in cooperation with the left-hand end portion of conveyor 16 while moving around roller 18 and also the momentum of the upper portion of each bag which tends to continue to move such upper portion in feeding direction. Member 174 however will obstruct movement of the lower portion of the bag 12 by engaging the leading end of said lower portion and retard forward movement thereof while the conveyor 16 tends to move said lower portion of each bag forwardly as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 5. The result of these operations therefore is that the bags are turned substantially to the final dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 adjacent the left-hand end of conveyor 16. Due not only to the momentum of the upper portion of the bags but also the curving away of the exit end of conveyor 16 around roller 18, the bag will be tipped into falling upon conveyor in flat condition, somewhat tipping over member 174 during the operation. Spring 178 immediately restores member 174 to its initial position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides simple, rugged, and highly effective means for moving a bag from beneath a filling station, closing the upper end of the bag, including folding the gusset ends of the bag into flat condition, holding the bag closed while expelling air from the upper portions of the bag as held closed, continuing to advance the bag to seal applying means such as a sewing machine and incidentally still holding the upper portion of the bag closed and also positively feeding the same and finally rotating the bag about its vertical axis and tipping said bag onto another conveyor so as to lie upon said conveyor in fiat condition. The entire operation of the mechanism comprising the present invention requires no manual effort other than an operator to place empty bags upon the discharge hopper and permit the bags to drop onto the main conveyor of the mechanism.

While the invention has been shown and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

1. Bag closing mechanism comprising in combination, a conveyor operable to support and move filled bags along a path while said bags are substantially in upright position from a filling station, a pair of endless bag closing belts supported by pairs of pulleys spaced longitudinally along said path and positioned commonly in a substantially horizontal plane intersecting the upper end portions of said filled bags, said belts having substantially parallel courses positioned to engage opposite sides of the said upper end of said filled bags as moved by said conveyor and said belts being operable to press the same toward each other to close said bags, air dispelling means comprising a pair of members supported at opposite sides of said path and engageable with said opposite sides of filled bags at a plane below said plane of said bag closing belts and while the upper end of said bags are held closed by said belts said air dispelling means being operable to dispel air in said bags from above the solid contents therein, means positioned and operable to apply bag sealing means to the upper end of said bags while the tops are held closed by said belts as aforesaid, and a pair of resilient fingers extending from said belts toward 3 said seal applying means and positioned and shaped to engage opposite sides of the upper end portions of said bags and hold the same closedwhile said bags are moving from said bag closing belts to said seal applying means. 2. Bag closing mechanism comprising in combination, conveying means movable to support and move filled bags having greater width than thickness and positioned with the Width of the bags parallel to the direction of movement of said conveying means, said conveying means moving said bags from beneath a filling station, bag closing means extending along opposite sides of the upper end of filled bags as moved by said conveying means to press said opposite sides toward each other substantially into closed relationship, means operable to apply bag sealing means to the upper end of said bags while the same are held closed as aforesaid, and means positioned to engage the lower portions of said bags as moved away successively from said seal applying means and operable to turn said filled and sealed bags substantially 90 about a vertical axis upon said conveying means, said bag turning means then additionally serving to tip said bags after being turned and cause them to fall flat upon said conveying means for further movement away from said seal applying means.

3. The bag closing mechanism set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said bag turning and tipping means comprising a hook-like member pivoted at one end and extending into the path of movement of bags upon said conveying means, said member being movable within a substantially horizontal plane slightly above said conveying means and operable to impose a drag on the leading edge of the lower portions of said bags to turn the same as aforesaid while the momentum of the upper portions of said bags tips them over said hook-like member and causes said bags to fall flat upon said conveying means.

4. Bag closing mechanism comprising in combination, a conveyor operable to support and move filled gussettype bags substantially in upright position along a path from beneath a filling station, means to drive said conveyor, gusset engaging and folding means comprising a pair of flexible disc-like members having irregular peripheries and mounted for rotation upon vertical axes on opposite sides of the path of movement of said bags, said members being operable substantially in a horizontal plane intersecting the upper portions of said bags and engaging the upper portions of the gussets on the leading ends of said bags as moved by said conveyor to fold said gussets into closed and flat condition, transversely spaced endless bag closing belt means having substantially parallel courses respectively extending along opposite sides of the upper end of filled bags as moved beyond said gusset folding means and operable to press said opposite sides toward each other, air dispelling means spaced longitudinally from said bag engaging means and comprising a pair of members engageable with said opposite sides of filled bags at a lower level than that engaged by said bag closing means and while the upper end of said bags are held closed therebyto dispel air in said bags from above the solid contents therein, and means to apply bag sealing means to the upper end of said bags while the tops are held closed as aforesaid.

5. Bag closing mechanism comprising in combination, a conveyor operable to support and move filled bags substantially in upright position along a path from beneath a filling station, means to drive said conveyor, a pair of endless closing belts supported by pairs of pulleys respectively spaced longitudinally along said path and positioned commonly in a substantially horizontal plane intersecting the upper end portions of said filled bags below the tops thereof, pairs of shafts respectively sup porting said pulleys, power means interconnected to certain of said shafts to drive said pulleys and belts, gusset closing means supported by the shafts of one pair thereof adjacent the forward part of said path and movable by said shafts to engage the upper portions of the gussets on the leading ends of said bags as fed by said conveyor and fold said gussets into substantially fiat and closed condition, said belts having substantially parallel courses positioned to engage opposite sides of the said upper end of said filled bags after the gussets have been closed as moved by said conveyor, thereby to press the sides toward each other to maintain said bags substantially closed, air dispelling means comprising a pair of members respectively movably carried by another pair of said shafts and engageable with said opposite sides of filled bags at a plane below said plane of said bag closing belts while the upper ends of said bags are held substantially closed by said belts, thereby dispelling air in said bags from above the solid contents therein, and means to apply bagsealing means to the upper end of said bags while the tops are held closed as aforesaid.

6. The bag closing mechanism set forth in claim 5 further including a plurality of frame means extending longitudinally relative to said conveyor above the same and respectively supporting said pairs of shafts and pulleys and bag closing belts thereon, one of said frames being movable laterally toward and from the other, and compressing means operable to urge one of said frames toward the other, whereby the belt and also the gusset closing and air dispelling means movably carried by one of said frames constantly are urged toward the belt and corresponding means carried by the other frame While the upper portions of filled bags are moved by said conveyor therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,037,200 Rosmait Apr. 14, 1936 2,396,262 Hartman et a1. Mar. 12, 1946 2,630,085 Dusin et a1. Mar. 3, 1953 2,667,959 Rogers Feb. 2, 1954 

